EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -Brandon Crawford isn’t your average football player getting a tryout with the New York Giants at a minicamp for rookies and free agents.
The former Marine who just finished a four-year career as a defensive end at Ball State is trying to win a job in the NFL – at age 33.
That’s about a decade later than either the average draft pick or free agent.
“I have as much chance as everyone else,” Crawford said after Friday morning’s workout at the minicamp. “I’m in shape. The body is in good health. I feel great. It’s just a matter of me getting out there and executing.”
The two-day tryout is somewhat of a long shot. The Giants have about two dozen free agents looking to be signed for training camp. Maybe, four or five will get a contract.
“I’m not even thinking about that now,” said Crawford, who was invited to the tryout on Sunday, the day after the three-day NFL draft. “I’m in the moment. That’s what I am focused on. Whatever happens after that, I’ll go from there. I just want to get out there and be successful and help the team be successful.”
Crawford certainly didn’t take the direct route to the NFL. After graduating from Fort Wayne South in 1996, he worked in an automotive factory before joining the Marines in 1999.
The final 3 1/2 years of his four-year enlistment was served at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, N.C., where he did administrative jobs, such as being a liaison for soldiers traveling overseas.
After being discharged, Crawford enrolled at Ball State in the summer of 2004, but left by the fall. He returned in 2006 and made the team as a 29-year-old walk-on.
“Since I was little, I was an athletic kid and always played sports, whether it was track, football, baseball or basketball,” Crawford said. “It worked out I had the opportunity and pursued it.”
Most of his college teammates didn’t realize he was older than them until he discussed his life.
“When they saw me doing drills, they would say, `What school did you come from?”’ Crawford said. “I told them and they said: ‘No way. You don’t look that old, or run like it or act the way you’re supposed to act at that age.”’
After that, Crawford became their big brother, always being the one who would open his house for video games, barbecues and general chat sessions.
Of course the nicknames followed: Crawdaddy, Crawpops, Crawfather, Old Man, Old Timer.
“If was fun because we were family,” Crawford said.
ch Tom Coughlin called Crawford a terrific guy.
“He is an outstanding Marine and I just take my hat off to that kid,” Coughlin said.
When asked if a 33-year-old had a chance to make the team, Coughlin didn’t hesitate.
“We’ll see,” he said. “They all have a chance.”
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